Martin County Public Records /Martin County Divorce Records

Martin County Divorce Records

What Are Martin County Divorce Records?

Martin County divorce records are official legal documents and court records that document the dissolution of a marriage processed through the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Martin County, Florida. These records are generated and maintained by the Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller, which serves as the official custodian of all civil and family court filings within the county.

Under Florida Statutes § 61.001, dissolution of marriage in Florida is governed by the principle of no-fault divorce, meaning that either spouse may petition the court on the grounds that the marriage is irretrievably broken. The resulting case file and final judgment constitute the official divorce record for that proceeding.

Members of the public and parties to a divorce may require these records for a variety of legal and administrative purposes, including:

Legal proof of marital status change for remarriage eligibility
Name change documentation with the Social Security Administration, DMV, or financial institutions
Social Security benefits claims or survivor benefit applications
Loan and mortgage applications requiring verification of marital status
Immigration matters, including visa petitions and naturalization proceedings
Estate planning and probate proceedings where prior marital history is relevant

The Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court maintains these records and provides access through both in-person and online channels.

Are Martin County Divorce Records Public?

Access to Martin County divorce records is governed by a combination of Florida's public records law and family law statutes, resulting in partial public access depending on the type of record requested. Under Florida Statutes § 119.01, the Public Records Law, all state, county, and municipal records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific exemption applies.

Court divorce case files — including petitions, motions, financial affidavits, and the final judgment of dissolution — are generally available for public inspection. However, certain documents within a divorce file may be sealed or restricted, particularly those involving:

Minor children's identifying information, including school records and medical records submitted to the court
Domestic violence allegations where a protective order has been issued
Financial account numbers and Social Security numbers, which are redacted pursuant to Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425
Confidential mediation communications, which are protected under Florida Statutes § 44.405

Certified divorce certificates, as distinct from full case file copies, are restricted-access documents. The Florida Department of Health issues certified dissolution of marriage certificates only to the parties named in the record, their legal representatives, or other persons with a demonstrated legal interest. These certificates serve as official abstracts of the final judgment and are accepted as legal proof that a dissolution was finalized.

How To Find a Divorce Record In Martin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking divorce records in Martin County may access them through several official channels. The process varies depending on whether the requester seeks a full court case file or a certified certificate of dissolution.

To obtain court case file records:

Identify the case number, if known, or the full legal names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce.
Submit a written request to the Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court by mail, fax, or in person at the courthouse.
Include the requester's name, contact information, the names of the parties, and the purpose of the request where applicable.
Pay applicable copy and certification fees as established by the Clerk's fee schedule.

To obtain a certified divorce certificate:

Submit a request to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, for divorces finalized on or after June 6, 1927.
Provide proof of identity and, if applicable, documentation establishing legal interest in the record.
Pay the applicable state fee per certified copy.

Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller 100 E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34994 Phone: (772) 288-5576 Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court

Hobe Sound Branch Office 11726 SE Federal Hwy., Hobe Sound, FL 33455 Phone: (772) 546-1308 Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to Noon, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court

Florida Department of Health – Bureau of Vital Statistics 1217 Pearl St., Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: (904) 359-6900 Florida Department of Health – Vital Statistics

How To Look Up Divorce Records in Martin County Online?

The Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court currently provides online access to court records through its official records search portal. Members of the public may use this portal to search for divorce case information by party name, case number, or filing date without visiting the courthouse in person.

To conduct an online search:

Navigate to the online records search portal maintained by the Martin County Clerk & Comptroller.
Select the appropriate search category — civil, family, or official records — depending on the type of document sought.
Enter the full legal name of one or both parties, or the case number if available.
Review the case summary and available documents. Some documents may be viewable online; others may require a formal request for certified copies.

The Clerk's portal also provides access to official recorded documents, including recorded final judgments of dissolution that have been entered into the official records index. The Recording Department records, indexes, and archives all documents presented for recording in the Official Records of Martin County.

How To Find Divorce Records for Free In Martin County?

Certain divorce record information is available at no cost through publicly accessible online tools and in-person inspection. Members of the public may inspect court records without charge at the Clerk's office during regular business hours, though fees apply for printed or certified copies.

Free access options currently include:

Online case index searches through the Martin County Clerk's records search portal, which provides case summaries and docket information at no charge
In-person inspection of non-restricted court files at the Clerk's main office or branch location, where members of the public may review documents without paying copy fees
Florida Courts E-Filing Portal case status lookups, which provide basic docket information for active and closed cases statewide

Fees are assessed when requesting printed copies (currently $1.00 per page for standard copies) or certified copies (an additional certification fee per document). Individuals who qualify under Florida's indigency statutes may petition the court for a waiver of certain fees.

What's Included in a Divorce Record In Martin County

A Martin County divorce record encompasses the complete court case file generated during dissolution of marriage proceedings, as well as any separately issued certified certificate of dissolution. The contents of a divorce case file typically include:

Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, identifying the petitioner, respondent, date of marriage, and grounds for dissolution
Summons and proof of service on the responding party
Financial affidavits disclosing income, assets, liabilities, and expenses of both parties
Marital settlement agreement, if the parties reached an uncontested resolution
Parenting plan and time-sharing schedule, in cases involving minor children
Child support guidelines worksheet, where applicable
Orders and rulings issued by the presiding judge during the proceedings
Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, which is the operative legal document terminating the marriage
Name change order, if a party requested restoration of a former name

The certified divorce certificate issued by the Florida Department of Health contains an abstract of the final judgment, including the names of the parties, the county of filing, the date the dissolution was granted, and the case number, but does not reproduce the full case file contents.

How To Get Proof of Divorce In Martin County?

Proof of divorce in Martin County may be obtained in two primary forms: a certified copy of the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage from the Clerk of Circuit Court, or a certified divorce certificate from the Florida Department of Health.

Certified copy of the Final Judgment is the most comprehensive form of proof and is issued directly by the Martin County Clerk. To obtain this document:

Submit a written request in person, by mail, or by fax to the Clerk's office.
Provide the case number or the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce.
Pay the applicable copy and certification fees.

Certified divorce certificate from the Florida Department of Health is an official abstract accepted as legal evidence that a dissolution was finalized. This document is available for divorces granted in Florida since June 6, 1927. Requests may be submitted online, by mail, or in person through the Florida Department of Health's divorce certificate program.

Both documents are accepted by government agencies, financial institutions, and foreign authorities as official proof of marital status change.

Can a Divorce Be Confidential In Martin County?

Certain components of a divorce proceeding in Martin County may be designated as confidential under Florida law, though the general rule favors public access to court records. Under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, specific categories of information within court filings are automatically confidential, and parties may petition the court to seal additional records upon a showing of good cause.

Records or portions of records that may be treated as confidential include:

Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth, which are redacted from public-facing documents as a matter of standard court practice
Records involving minor children, including guardian ad litem reports and certain dependency-related documents
Domestic violence safety information, such as the address of a protected party
Mediation communications, which are privileged and confidential under Florida Statutes § 44.405 and may not be disclosed in subsequent proceedings
Sealed settlement agreements, where the court has entered a specific order restricting access

A party seeking to seal or restrict access to divorce records must file a motion with the presiding judge and demonstrate that the interest in confidentiality outweighs the public's right of access as established under Florida's constitutional and statutory framework.

How Long Does a Divorce Take In Martin County?

The duration of a divorce proceeding in Martin County varies significantly based on the complexity of the case, the degree of agreement between the parties, and the current caseload of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court.

Simplified dissolution of marriage (uncontested, no minor children, no significant assets): Eligible parties may complete this process in as few as 30 to 60 days from the date of filing, provided all required documents are properly submitted and both parties appear at the final hearing.

Uncontested dissolution with a marital settlement agreement: Cases where the parties have reached full agreement on all issues, including property division, support, and parenting, typically resolve within 60 to 90 days of filing.

Contested dissolution: Cases involving disputed property, alimony, child custody, or child support may take 6 months to 2 years or longer, depending on the need for discovery, mediation, and trial scheduling.

Florida law imposes a mandatory 20-day waiting period after service of the petition before a final hearing may be scheduled in most cases. Cases involving minor children are also subject to mandatory parenting course completion requirements under Florida Statutes § 61.21 before a final judgment may be entered.

The Martin County Clerk's domestic relations division processes all family law filings and can provide information on current scheduling timelines.

How Long Does Martin County Keep Divorce Records?

Martin County divorce records are subject to retention schedules established under Florida law and the Florida Department of State's General Records Schedule for the Judiciary. Under the Florida General Records Schedule GS1-SL, court records related to civil and family proceedings are subject to the following retention periods:

Final judgments of dissolution of marriage: Retained permanently as part of the official court record
Complete civil/family case files: Retained for a minimum of 10 years after the case is closed, with many records retained permanently due to their legal significance
Official recorded documents (including recorded final judgments): Retained permanently in the Official Records of Martin County, as maintained by the Recording Department of the Clerk's office
Administrative and procedural documents within a case file: Subject to varying retention periods as specified in the applicable general records schedule

Because final judgments are retained permanently and recorded in the Official Records index, members of the public may generally locate and access dissolution records regardless of how many years have elapsed since the case was closed.

How To Get a Divorce In Martin County

Individuals seeking to dissolve a marriage in Martin County must file the appropriate petition with the Clerk of Circuit Court in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. Florida is a no-fault divorce state, and at least one spouse must have been a Florida resident for a minimum of six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition.

Steps to initiate a divorce in Martin County:

Determine eligibility: Confirm that at least one party meets the six-month Florida residency requirement.
Select the appropriate petition type: Simplified dissolution (for eligible couples with no minor children and full agreement) or regular petition for dissolution of marriage.
Complete required forms: Florida Supreme Court-approved family law forms are available through the Florida Courts website and at the Clerk's self-help resources.
File the petition: Submit the completed petition and all required attachments to the Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court at the main courthouse. Pay the applicable filing fee (currently subject to change; confirm current fees with the Clerk's office).
Serve the respondent: The petitioner must arrange for proper legal service of process on the other party, unless both parties are filing jointly under the simplified procedure.
Complete mandatory requirements: In cases involving minor children, both parties must complete a court-approved parenting course as required under Florida Statutes § 61.21.
Attend the final hearing: Appear before the assigned judge or general magistrate for the final dissolution hearing.

The domestic relations section of the Martin County Clerk's office provides self-help resources and procedural information for parties representing themselves, though legal representation is strongly advisable in contested matters.

Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller – Family Law Division 100 E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34994 Phone: (772) 288-5576 Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court

How To Get Divorce Papers In Martin County

Divorce papers — including petitions, financial affidavits, parenting plans, and final judgments — may be obtained from the Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court through in-person, mail, or online request methods.

To obtain blank divorce forms for filing:

Florida Supreme Court-approved family law forms are available at no charge through the Florida Courts official website and at the Clerk's public counter during regular business hours.
The Martin County Clerk's self-help center at the main courthouse provides access to standard forms and procedural guidance for self-represented litigants.

To obtain copies of existing divorce case documents:

Visit the Clerk's main office or Hobe Sound branch, or submit a written request by mail or fax.
Provide the case number or the names of both parties and the approximate filing year.
Use the online records search portal to identify the case and determine which documents are available for remote access or must be requested in person.
Pay applicable copy fees upon receipt of the documents.

To obtain certified copies of the final judgment or other case documents, the requester must specify that certification is required at the time of the request and pay the applicable certification fee in addition to the per-page copy fee.